State boys: Treynor rallies by Regina, Cook for 2-A crown

When Iowa City Regina was down to one option, Treynor saw many.

Storming back from an 11-point second-half deficit and overcoming 23 points from Regina star Drew Cook, Treynor fought together to win its first state basketball championship, a 51-46 scrap in Friday night's Class 2-A title game.

The Cardinals were always greater than the sum of their parts.

"I think we're the toughest team in the state, and I think that's really special," Treynor coach Scott Rucker said. "Toughness wins in this tournament. Toughness wins, period."

Fifth-seeded Treynor (24-3) trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter, and when it took a 44-43 lead back with 4:13 remaining, its crowd erupted for its first advantage since the first quarter.

By switching defenses and swarming Cook, the Cardinals used their balance, length and experience to hold for their first title in 14 state tournament appearances.

"It was a roller-coaster," Treynor senior forward Trey Robinson said. "Those first three quarters, we just kept throwing punches back and forth, and it came down to who was tougher.

"We knew in the last four minutes there wasn't another TV timeout and that's all we had left. We had to go all out."

Cook started the choppy final by hitting his first seven shots, four from 3-point range. A double-team of Robinson and 6-foot-6 teammate Jacob Flathers couldn't force a miss until the second half, when Regina (22-5) kept giving up ground. The Regals were outscored 16-5 in the fourth quarter.

"In the first half, our offense was doing its job and we'd built a lead bit by bit," Cook said. "In the fourth quarter, they really picked up their defense by switching to a 1-3-1 (zone). That really caused problems and let them close the gap."

Nolan Chapman led Treynor with 17 points, but Flathers followed closely with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Robinson added 13 points and eight boards.

After coming in third place last season, topping Forest City by three points in this year's quarterfinals and needing double overtime to beat Aplington-Parkersburg in the semis, the Cardinals were ready to grind out another close finish.

"We knew as long as we attacked and kept our poise, we'd be tougher down the stretch," Robinson said.

Both teams were playing in their first state championship game since the 1970s, with 43 years separating Treynor's deflating runner-up finish from Friday night's title.

The Cardinals lost to Alta on a buzzer-beater in 1972. Regina's last crown came in 1979.

"Our community deserves this," Rucker said.

Besides Cook's 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, the Regals were just 6-of-24 from the field. They shot 3-of-8 from the free throw line in the second half.

"It's hard to get caught up in that, and their fans were going crazy," Cook said. "We just couldn't pull through."

Robinson fouled out with 2:50 left. There were more Cardinals ready to fill in his place and sprint back to the bench and celebrate when time expired at Wells Fargo Arena.

"When they started pulling it out, we said that could be a good thing for us because they're just trying to get this game over with," Rucker said. "We just wanted to keep coming at them."

Cook was named all-tournament team captain.

IOWA CITY REGINA (46)—Stenger 2, Suchomel 3, Phillips 10, Cook 23, Arendt 8. Also played—Brown, Ziniel. Totals 15-38 8-14.

TREYNOR (51)— Castle 2, Flathers 14, Robinson 13, Chapman 17, Deitchler 5. Also played—Chapin, Hill. Totals 16-38 19-24.

Iowa City Regina…18 12 11 5—46

Treynor … 13 12 10 16—51

3-point goals—Iowa City Regina 8 (Cook 5, Phillips 2, Suchomel), Treynor 0. Fouls—Iowa City regina 21, Treynor 17. Fouled out—Suchomel, Robinson.